Hi Ozzie,

It sounds to me like your friend had some serious problems already with the physical stuff and the depression, and the gambling might have been the only thing that gave her a short term lift.

That makes the way out of it harder, but I'm thinking that the problems were there for her before the gambling kicked in.

It's only a hunch.

Cheers, M

PS - You'd be a good friend to have around in that situation.